Apparatus for testing and matching shuffleboard disks



Oct. 8, 1940. I CH 2,217,492

APPARATUS FOR TESTING AND MATCHING SHUFFLEBOARD DISKS Filed June 20, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

ATTORNEY Oct. 8 19.40. PEACHEY f 2,217,492

APPARATUS FOR TESTING AND MATCHING SHUFFLEBOARDDISKS Fiied June 20, 1939 v a Sheets-Sheet 2 v IILI'IIIIIIIHII IHI /2 3. I ljvfiA/gfwToR I I BY Y I WATT'ORNEY' Oct. 8. 1940. J. D. PEA-CHEY' I APPARATUS FOR TESTING AND MATCHING SHUFFLEBOARD DISKS Filed June 20, 1959 s Sheet-Sheei; 3

. fivzmon 3 1 47, ,44" W ATTbRNEY Patented Oct. 8, 1940 APPARATUS FOR TESTING AND MATCHING SHUFFLEBOARD DISKS v John D. Peachey, Oakland Park, Fla.

Application- June 20, 1939, Serial No. 280,032

12 Claims.

have the weight evenly distributedso that a given force exerted on the one by the player will propel the disks the same distance on the court and in a straight path.

One object of my invention is to provide apparatus whereby the disks of a set may be matched or single disks may be tested to determine the distance and character of travel possible under a certain propelling force.

Another object of the invention is to provide such apparatus'which'shall be simple, reliable and durable, and which can be operated by relatively unskilled persons."

A further object is to provide a novel and improved apparatus whereby a plurality of disks, for example all of the disks of a set, can be simultaneously propelled under the same force along the same court surface, sothat the distance of travel of the disks can be easily and quickly compared, and by a process of repeated trials and substitution and elimination of disks, a matched set of disks can be obtained.

Another object is to provide in such an apparatus a novel and improved cuehead whereby a plurality of disks can be propelled at the same time over a court surface.

Other objects are to provide a novel and improved apparatus which shall include a casing to be removably secured on the court surface" and having a spring actuated cue head for simultaneously propelling'a plurality of disks over the playing surface of the court under a certain propelling force provided by the spring that actuates the cue head, and'to obtain other objects, advantages and results as will be brought out by the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of an apparatus embodying my invention, showing it in operative position on a shuflleboard court.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 2a is a fragmentary top plan View on a further enlarged scale showing the plate and bolt for attaching the apparatus to the court, the

head of the bolt being removed for clearness in illustration.

Figure 3 is a top plan View of the apparatus shown in Figure 2 with the cover of the casing open and portions of the casing broken away and shown in section.

Figures 4 and 5 are transverse vertical sectional views on the lines 4 -4 and 55 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary top plan view of the cue head attachment for permitting the pro-' pulsion of a single disk.

.Figure 7 is a transverse vertical sectional view on the line l--! of Figure 6. Figures 8 and 9 are transverse v'ertical sectional views taken on the lines 8-'-8 and 99 respectively of Figure 2.

Figure 10 is a top plan view of a modification of the invention wherein the cue headis'mounted on. a shaft or handle for manual operation,'and

Figure 11 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view on the line IIH of Figure 10.

Specifically describing the invention, the reference character A designates a shuflleboard playing court which has the usual scoring diagramsB'at opposite ends thereof, including the starting or 10-ofi. areas C.

In testing or matching disks" in'accordance with my invention, the'disk's are located in one of the starting areas 0 and propelled toward'the starting diagram at the oppositeend of the court.

For this purpose, I utilize an apparatus which includes a cue head 1 formed of suitable mateedge, each to form a seat for one of the disks. Centrally of thelength of the cue-head is 'attached a shaft 3 which projects rearwardly from the head so that there are an equal number of disk seats'2 evenly distributed at opposite sides of the point of attachment of the shaft to the head.

As shown in Figures '1 to 9 inclusive the shaft 3 comprisesa pipe which is secured at one'end' rial and having a plurality of'notches 2 in one 3 the casing D. Preferably a portion of the casing D is in the form of a hinged cover l2 which is shown in the open position in Figure 3 and in closed position in Figures 1, 2 and 4. For holding the cover in closed position suitable devices, such as hooks and eyes [3, may be provided.

The shaft 3 and head 5 are propelled under spring pressure provided by a helical spring 14 arranged within the opening 9 of the casing and having the convolution I5 at one end of larger diameter than the other convolutions and seated against a shoulder l6 in the casing. Preferably one end of the spring is embedded in the casing as indicated at I! and a suitable fastening means, such as a clip or staple I8, may be provided for further fastening the spring in position. The other end of the spring is connected to the shaft 3 in any suitable manner as by loops 1 9 through which pass the end convolutions of the spring, and which are secured to the shaft 3 by screws 20 threaded into openings 2| in the shaft. By fitting the screws selectively into different openings 2|, the tension of the spring may be adjusted. Preferably the extremity 22 of the spring is slidably seated in a longitudinal groove 23 in the shaft to prevent relative rotation of the spring and the shaft during extension and contraction of the spring.

In operation of the apparatus, the cue shaft 3 is slid inwardly of the case to extend and place under tension the spring l4, so that when the shaft is released the contraction of the spring will exert a quick propelling force on the shaft. For temporarily and releasably holding the shaft with the spring under tension I have provided a spring dog 24 which is pivoted at one end on the bar I to which the guide shaft 6 is pivoted. The other end of the dog is in the form of a hook to cooperate with an opening 21 in the cue shaft 3. The dog is normally influenced to move the hook 26 toward the cue shaft by a spring 28 comprisin two helical coils integrally connected at one end, engaging the dog 24 between them, and having their opposite ends fixedly secured as by screws 29 to the casing. As the cue shaft 3 is slid inwardly of the casing, the hooked end 26 of the dog will ride upwardly over the inner end of the cue shaft and then snap into the opening 2! so as to hold the shaft under the tension of the spring l4. Preferably the inner end of the cue shaft will have a longitudinal groove 30 for uiding the hooked end of the dog into the opening 21, and to take up looseness between the cue I shaft and the guide shaft and also to ensure ac curate engagement of the dog with the opening 2'1, the guide shaft may have a protuberance or v welled portion 3| at its side opposite the opening 1 to enter a guide groove 32 in the inner sur-' face of the cue shaft 3.

The apparatus so far described may be secured to the court in any suitable manner. Preferably the end of the casing opposite the cue head has an attaching plate 33 hingedly connected at 34 to the underside of the casing and formed with a longitudinal slot 35 the inner end of which merges into a hole 36. A lag bolt 31 is inserted through the hole 36 and screwed into the playing court as at 38. Where it is desired to use a certain court as a regular testing court, the lag screw may be left in position in. the court surface and formed with transverse grooves 39 at opposite sides thereof, which upon rotation of the bolt through an angle of 90 will permit the attaching plate 33 to be slid off the bolt with the edges of the slot 35 in the plate sliding through the grooves 39 in the bolt. Figure 2A shows the bolt in holding position in solid lines and in releasing position by dot and dash lines.

The bolt will be so located with espect to the starting area C of the shufiieboard court, that when the apparatus is attached to the court, the cue head I will be disposed in the starting area as shown in Figure 1. In use of the apparatus the casing is mounted as described and as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and the cue shaft is forced inwardly of the casing to tension the spring l4 until the dog 26 engages the hole 21. Thereupon the disks E to be tested are set in the respective seats 22 and resting upon the court playing surface. The operator then steps upon the forward end of the casing, and the dog 24 is released, whereupon the disks E are simultaneou'sly propelled along the surface of the court, under exactly the same propelling force. If two disks move approximately the same distance in parallel directions, that is without curving, it may be assumed that they are well matched, while if certain of the disks move less or greater distance than the others, or curve, it will be necessary to eliminate and substitute the various disks until the desired number of disks move approximately the same distance and in parallel directions under the same impelling force in repeated shooting operations.

The dog 24 may be released in any suitable manner, but preferably an opening 43 is provided in the casing through which a screw driver or the like F may be inserted beneath the dog to lift the dog out of the opening 21.

The one shaft 3 may be set under the spring tension by manually pushing the shaft inwardly of the casing, but preferably I utilize ropes 4! passing over pulleys 42 journaled on the opposite sides of the casing, the ropes having hooks 43 at one end to removably fit into the openings 44. in'the cue head. By setting the hooks 43 into the openings 44, standing on the forward end of the casing, and pulling upwardly on the free ends of the ropes 4!, the head may be pulled toward the casing to force the cue shaft 3 into the casing.

Should it be desired to shoot or propel a single disk, a pair of pins 45 may be screwed into the cue head at opposite' sides of the cue shaft to form a seat for a single disk E as shown in Figure 6.

In some instancles, especially when shooting a single disk, it may be desirable to orient the casing so as to aim the disk at a given target or point. For this purpose, the forward end of the casing may have a sight pin 45 removabiy secured therein, and a second sight pin 41'. having a forked upper end, may be fitted into the rear end of the casing. By sighting through the forked end of the rear pin 41. over the forward pin 46 to the target and swinging the casing about the attaching bolt 37, the apparatus may be accurately aimed to shoot the disk at the target.

Preferably the underside of the cue head will have a pair of smooth wear-resisting guide blocks or runners'50 for supporting the head on the playing surface of the court. Also, preferably, the opening It] will be elongated vertically so as to permit vertical movement of the cue shaft to compensate for unevenness in the playing surface and also to avoid jamming of the shaft during sliding thereof in both directions. This construction and operation also compensates for the recoil of the cue shaft and head after shooting of the disks, and it will be observed that the structure as described makes it possible to exert on the disks a pressure and motion closely simulating the manual pressure and motion that is incident to playing the game of sufiieboard.

In some instances it may be desirable to match the disk under manual force, and where this is desirable, the cue head I may be removed from the cue shaft 3, and connected to a rod or handle 48 one end of which may be inserted into the socket 5 in the cue head in the same manner in which the cue shaft 3 is inserted.

The pivotal connection of the casing to the stationary support afforded by the shuflleboard court or the like, through the hinged plate 33, in addition to compensating for the recoil incident to shooting operations, also permits the casing to be swung upwardly into a vertical position to facilitate manual energizing of the spring l4 and for swinging the easing into an out-of-the-way position, for example alongside the players bench at the end of a shuffieboard court.

While I have shown and described the invention as embodied in certain details of structure,

it will be understood that this is primarily for' illustrating the principles of the invention, and that many modifications and changes may be made in the details of structure without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, an approximately flat elongate cue head having a 'bottom surface to slide upon the surface of a shuifleboard court, a cue shaft secured to and projecting from the center of the length of said cue head, and a plurality of seats in and spaced longitudinally of the forward edge of said one head and in uniformly distributed relation at opposite sides of said cue shaft, each seat being formed to contact with the periphery of a shuffieboard disk at spaced points in its circumference.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, an approximately fiat elongate cue head having a bottom surface to slide upon the surface of a shuffleboard court, a cue shaft secured to and projecting from the center of the length of said cue head, and a plurality of seats in and spaced longitudinally of the forward edge of said cue head and in uniformly distributed relation at opposite sides of said cue shaft, each seat being formed to contact with the periphery of a shuflieboard disk at spaced points in its circumference, means mounting and guiding said cue shaft for longitudinal horizontal movement to propel said disks, and spring mechanism for longitudinally actuating said shaft in the direction to propel said disks.

3. In apparatus of the character described, a cue head having a seat for at least one shuflieboard disk, a cue shaft connected to said cue head, a casing slidably receiving said one shaft, means for securing said casing on a stationary plane surface, a spring which when energized will impel saidcue shaft in one direction, and a detent for releasably temporarily holding said one shaft against movement by said spring in said direction while the spring is energized.

4. In apparatus of the character described, a cue head having a seat for at least one shuiileboard disk, a cue shaft connected to said cue and a detent for temporarily releasably holding said one shaft against movement in said direction by said spring while the spring is energized.

5. The apparatus set forth in claim 4 wherein said stationary support includes a casing in which said cue shaft is slidable, and means for securing said casing on a stationary plane surface.

6. The apparatus set forth in claim 4 wherein said stationary support includes a casing in which said cue shaft is slidable, and means for pivotally securing said casing to swing albout a vertical axis on a stationary plane surface whereby said casing may pivotally be adjusted horizontally to aim said one head in desired directions.

'7. Apparatus of the character described comprising a casing having a longitudinal opening leading through one end, a cue shaft slidable in said opening with one end projecting from the casing, a cue head on said cue shaft having a seat for at least one shufileboard disk, a guide shaft telescopically and relatively slidably associated with said one shaft, means pivotally connecting the end of said guide shaft opposite said one head to said casing to swing in a vertical plane, means for fastening said casing to a plane surface of a stationary support, a spring in said casing and connected to said one shaft so as to impel the latter outwardly of said casing when the spring is energized, and a detent for temporarily releasably holding said one shaft against movement in said direction by said spring while the spring is energized;

8. The apparatus set forth in claim 7 wherein said means'for fastening said casing to a stationary support includes a plate hingedly connected to the end of the casing opposite said cue head to permit swing of the casing in a vertical plane, said plate having an opening, and a bolt to pass through said opening and be secured in said stationary support.

9. The apparatus set forth in claim '7 wherein said detent comprises a spring actuated dog pivotally mounted on said guide shaft and which releasably engages an opening in said cue shaft.

10. The apparatus set forth in claim 7 wherein said one shaft is connected to the center of the rear edge of said one head and the forward edge of said one head has a plurality of seats, each for one shuffleboard disk, disposed in uniform relation at opposite sides of said one shaft.

11. The apparatus set forth in claim '7 wherein the ends of said spring are connected respectively to said casing and to said cue shaft, and with the addition of means for energizing said spring including a pulley at each side of said casing, a rope passing around each pulley, and means for sep-arably connecting one end of each rope to said one head at one side of said cue shaft, whereby a pull on the other ends of said ropes will force said cue shaft into said casing against the influence of said spring.

12. The apparatus set forth in claim I wherein one end of said spring is'fixedly secured to said casing, and with the addition of means for connecting the other end of the spring to said cue shaft selectively at different points to vary the degree of energization of said spring.

JOHN D. PEACHEY. 

